The cinema is now a Marvel Universe

An office colleague sauntered up to me a couple of hours ago and said, "hey, they are making The God of Thunder". I replied: "You mean that Viking God in the comics?"

Yes, he responded. Then, there's The Watchmen. Apparently, it has been cooked and ready to be served, meaning the casting, budget and other million dollar details are in the pipeline.

So these two comic titles are being added on to the Hollywood conveyor belt. The last two or three years have seen an enormous output of comics type films. We had the Hulk, Daredevil, Spiderman, Batman, Superman, Fantastic Four, Ghost Rider, Catwoman, X-Men and Elektra.

I have probably missed out on a few but who's counting? The big studio guys have suddenly realised that they have hit the motherlode as far as moviegoers' fascination is concerned.

Superheroes movies have struck a nerve and it leaves a lingering feel-good sensation that resonates with the tinseltown auditors and bankers. There's something to be said about comic books and mutants with superpowers.

There used to be a time when only children were fascinated with colour pages filled with out-of-this-world stories. Times have changed. These days everybody is involved. Who would have believed that in this day and age, movies about superheroes who have caught most of our fancy back three or four decades ago have all returned in the greatest CGI way.

After having said all that, I have to confess that I am a big time comic fan. I have not really left the world of Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Valiant and what-have-you. There are also so many independent comic publishers these days that I have lost count.

But honestly, comics are also no longer a dime a dozen. Those were the good old days. These days, quality comics can actually make a kid cry with grief. Publishers blame it all on price of paper, escalating costs of expensive ink and the astronomical amount of money, successful comic writers and artists are demanding.

So what else is new? But coming back to the cinema or theatre, depending on which part of the world, you are from a cinema and theatre simply means the same thing. It's where ordinary people pay a few bucks to venture into the delightful world of escapism.

It's a place where anyone and everyone can be a superheroes. There are no barriers or boundaries in the realm of comics and superheroes. That's what so wonderful about the whole thing.

I know one day, this runaway comics cinema train will derail but till then, I am having the ride of my life. It's really fun. This is one train, any commuter regardless of age, can buy a ticket and get on board.

You can be like children again. Nobody in the darkened cinema is going to take notice of you because all of them are into their own world of marvels. Isn't that wonderful?

Truly, imagination is so stupendously wonderful. See ya at the cinema!